New age in journalism holds the media accountable

President Trump’s presidency has been label as controversial, skewed, unorthodox, and polarized. Whether its a dubious tweet, Congressional hearing, cabinet appointment, firing, or state visit, the media has been there. Holding the president, his cabinet, and his party accountable every step of the way. In an age where many news organizations and outlets have started to downsize, developments within the new administration have created a demand for investigative journalists, fact checkers, and other support staff at some of America’s most illustrious news organizations. But, amid their investigations and reporting, who is keeping the media accountable?
Our First Amendment right as American citizens should never be taken for granted. Since the inauguration of President Trump in late January, many inside and outside of journalism feel that our ability to exercise First Amendment rights has become compromised. The result: media’s devotion to covering every story that comes out of the West Wing.
Thus Far, journalists have worked overtime to hold Trump and his administration accountable on a variety of issues that include promises made during the 2016 campaign, health care reform, Russian meddling in the recent election, American foreign policy, and tax reform. But is the media doing all they can?
Great political theorists such as John Stuart Mill, Edmund Burke, Robert Dahl, and John Locke champion the media as the true promoters of Democracy; holding all branches of the government accountable to their word for all of the its citizens. During his campaign, President Trump ran under the now popular slogan, “Make American Great Again.”. People from America’s heartland turned out by the thousands to hear his messages and promises. The media covered it every step of the way but neglected to go deeper and capture the voice of the people living in rural America. The problems that they have been having, some, for generations. In the 18 months leading to the election, much was heard of voting projections from large urban centers like New City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. We heard political analysts from former administrations, think tanks, and advocacy groups make calculated opinions based on polls and data. Projections that pointed heavily in the favor of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We heard little about the needs, wants, and desires from the people of Knox County, Ohio, Wexford County, Michigan, or Levy County, Florida. Many argue that we were startled by the results of the election because the media failed to capture the voice of rural America who voted resoundingly for Donald Trump.
For weeks, dissatisfied Americans pigeonholed Trump supporters as
uneducated, racist, and out of touch with what is best for the American people. This may or may not be the case, but that is not the point here. The point is that the media must strive to grasp the voice of all Americans.
Thus far, Journalism has responded positively, reporting with relentless vigor. The media is quick to catch the president in a lie or document drama unfolding in the White House but, there could be more done to hold the Oval Office accountable for their promise of “Making America Great Again”. In Knox County, Ohio, high school students learn with outdated textbooks and calculator shortages. Providence County, Rhode Island is facing a deadly fentanyl/ heroin pandemic. Countless roads and bridges from California to Massachusetts go without repair. President Trump has pledged $1 trillion towards infrastructures and services to make America great again. From CNN to NBC, FOX to ABC it is essential that they continue to catch the president in every lie, tweet, or controversy. To hold tight to the ideals of Mills, Burke, Dahl, and Locke it is important that journalists go the extra mile to capture the voice of all; to hold the president accountable for the entire nation. Venture out. Go to the places that won President Trump the election: The places that believe in his message and see if he is holding up his end of the bargain.